Inside the Factory – How Every Piece is Handmade in Sweden

Article

Inside the Factory – How Every Piece is Handmade in Sweden

In a decade of mass production, handmade furniture from Sweden stands as a quiet rebellion. At by Crea, every bar stool, table, and chair begins in a factory in southern Sweden. Here, skilled artisans shape each piece by hand, combining modern minimalism with traditional craftsmanship. Here, custom requests are transformed into physical objects. Every oak grain, leather curve, and powder-coated steel detail is chosen with care, precision, and purpose.

Let us take you inside our process, from concept to creation, and show you what handcrafted furniture really means.

April 24, 2025

Designed in Sweden. Built by Hand.

Each piece of by Crea furniture is designed by our founder Alexandra Pettersson, with a design rooted in Scandinavian principles. But the design is only the beginning. Every curve, joint, and finish is manually shaped and assembled in our Swedish factory by a small team of expert craftspeople.

This hands-on approach means:

No two pieces are exactly alike
Every measurement is tailored to millimeter precision
Quality is monitored at every stage, personally, not just digitally

Each piece of by Crea furniture is designed by our founder Alexandra Pettersson, with a design rooted in Scandinavian principles. But the design is only the beginning. Every curve, joint, and finish is manually shaped and assembled in our Swedish factory by a small team of expert craftspeople.

This hands-on approach means:

No two pieces are exactly alike
Every measurement is tailored to millimeter precision
Quality is monitored at every stage, personally, not just digitally

The Art of Crafting Wooden Bar Stools

by Crea is perhaps best known for its bar stools, combining slender silhouettes with exceptional comfort and materiality. Our wooden process includes:

Joinery by hand, no shortcuts, no mass gluing
Custom shaping of solid oak frames, sourced from FSC®-certified forests
Upholstering in boucle, vegan leather, or your own fabric by experienced seamstresses
Final assembly and inspection by a dedicated artisan, not an assembly line

by Crea is perhaps best known for its bar stools, combining slender silhouettes with exceptional comfort and materiality. Our wooden process includes:

Joinery by hand, no shortcuts, no mass gluing
Custom shaping of solid oak frames, sourced from FSC®-certified forests
Upholstering in boucle, vegan leather, or your own fabric by experienced seamstresses
Final assembly and inspection by a dedicated artisan, not an assembly line

The Precision Behind Our Steelwork

Just like our wood, the steel in every by Crea frame is treated with the same level of respect, precision, and hands-on craftsmanship. Whether it’s matte black, white, or beige, each steel component begins as raw Swedish steel, cut, shaped, and finished in our factory with deliberate care.

Just like our wood, the steel in every by Crea frame is treated with the same level of respect, precision, and hands-on craftsmanship. Whether it’s matte black, white, or beige, each steel component begins as raw Swedish steel, cut, shaped, and finished in our factory with deliberate care. Our steel process includes:

Cutting certified Swedish steel to millimeter-precise dimensions
Hand-welding and grinding to ensure seamless, strong connections, no visible joints or weak points
Polishing and pre-treatment, removing any residue or impurities for a flawless surface
Degreasing and washing in preparation for finishing
Powder-coating in-house, using durable, eco-friendly finishes for long-term resistance and aesthetic quality
Frame integration with cushions, ensuring each piece fits with exact alignment and tension
Final assembly and quality control, conducted manually by our artisans for balance, comfort, and finish accuracy

Materials That Matter

What makes our furniture last? Not just how we build it, but what we build it with. We use:

Primarily crafted from solid oak, with veneer or laminate options available upon customer request.
Powder-coated certified Swedish steel for durability and contrast
Eco-certified upholstery materials that offer beauty and resilience
Vegan leather, velvet and soft-touch boucle for texture

What makes our furniture last? Not just how we build it, but what we build it with. We use:

Primarily crafted from solid oak, with veneer or laminate options available upon customer request.
Powder-coated certified Swedish steel for durability and contrast
Eco-certified upholstery materials that offer beauty and resilience
Vegan leather, velvet and soft-touch boucle for texture

What Handmade Really Means

When we say handmade, we don’t mean partially assembled or "finished by hand."

We mean:

Measuring, cutting, and shaping each element manually
Applying finishes, sanding, and treating wood with tools and hand machines
Quality checking by touch, sight, and feel

This meticulous process requires time, patience, and expertise, but the results are visible in every detail. From the precision of a bevel to the softness of a seat, it’s craftsmanship you can see and feel.

When we say handmade, we don’t mean partially assembled or "finished by hand."

We mean:

Measuring, cutting, and shaping each element manually
Applying finishes, sanding, and treating wood with tools and hand machines
Quality checking by touch, sight, and feel

This meticulous process requires time, patience, and expertise, but the results are visible in every detail. From the precision of a bevel to the softness of a seat, it’s craftsmanship you can see and feel.

A Personal Piece

Every by Crea product tells a story, of your style, and our dedication. That’s why:

You choose the finish, fabric, and configuration
We build your piece from scratch, for your space alone
Our artisans sign off on each piece as a mark of pride

Whether it’s an Ann dining table in natural oak or a set of Freja bar stools tailored in your chosen materials, the experience is personal, the result enduring, and the furniture unmistakably yours.

Every by Crea product tells a story, of your style, and our dedication. That’s why:

You choose the finish, fabric, and configuration
We build your piece from scratch, for your space alone
Our artisans sign off on each piece as a mark of pride

Whether it’s an Ann dining table in natural oak or a set of Freja bar stools tailored in your chosen materials, the experience is personal, the result enduring, and the furniture unmistakably yours.

Why Handmade in Sweden Still Matters

In a sea of fast furniture, by Crea stands for lasting beauty, honest craftsmanship, and locally made excellence. We believe in slow, skilled work is still the most valuable kind.

So the next time you slide into a handcrafted bar stool or rest your book on a perfectly proportioned side table, know this: it didn’t come from a warehouse. It came from here...

Our hands, in Sweden.

In a sea of fast furniture, by Crea stands for lasting beauty, honest craftsmanship, and locally made excellence. We believe in slow, skilled work is still the most valuable kind.

So the next time you slide into a handcrafted bar stool or rest your book on a perfectly proportioned side table, know this: it didn’t come from a warehouse. It came from here...

Our hands, in Sweden.